Editor's Note: As Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning continued blockage of extended benefits for the jobless, some of Tuesday’s American Morning viewers cheered the senator’s actions: “We hear about fiscal responsibility from politicians on both sides, but never see it in practice. I commend Senator Bunning for finally making an effort to control spending in Washington.” Those opposed to the senator’s actions called Republicans “mean spirited,” and scolded CNN for claiming that Democrats are accusing all Republicans of the behavior, when it is solely Sen. Bunning.

Andy: I'd like to express my disappointment with American Morning and the main stream news for strongly objecting to Senator Bunning's position on the bill to extend jobless benefits. If this issue were so important, why can't our Congress finance this bill? Jobs today do no good if we lead our country into a financial disaster tomorrow. We hear about fiscal responsibility from politicians on both sides, but never see it in practice. I commend Senator Bunning for finally making an effort to control spending in Washington.

Paul: Listening to the morning show, I keep hearing that "congress" is stopping jobless benefits etc. It is NOT congress, it’s Bunning and the Republicans. When will you call [it the way it is]?

David: Ask Mitch McConnell about Bunning, because he probably put him up to it. Not that McConnell ever gives a straight or reasonable answer either.

Dan: What […] do you mean "Democrats are pointing fingers..." at Sen. Bunning? The FACT is that Bunning's hold on the legislation is responsible for the furloughed jobs, the delay in unemployment benefits, etc. It's NOT a he said/she said situation. It's REALITY. Please report it that way.

Linda: The Republican party is finally coming "out of the closet." Not that more than half the country didn't already suspect that the GOP is the most mean-spirited bunch […] ever. Now, the disgusting display of arrogance and disregard for ordinary people by Republican senator Bunning and the lack of condemnation by his party, should make it crystal clear what would happen to most of us if they should regain control of our government. If the Democrats have any spine at all, they should pound these jerks over the head with this every single day from now until the elections. Also, it would be a great service to our country if the MSM continues to stress just how dangerous it would be to put these people back in power.

Chile wants to stop looters in areas hit hard by the earthquake. ''We want to make it clear that it won't be accepted,'' President Michelle Bachelet said

Santiago, Chile (CNN) - Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said all emergency measures should be in place by Tuesday, three days after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake destroyed large swaths of the central and southern parts of the nation.

The death toll stood at 723 Tuesday, with 544 reported killed in Maule, where a sewer system collapsed and several water towers were close to toppling, the National Emergency Office said. The death tally was expected to climb, officials said.

Although damage was significant in Santiago, the nation's capital, electricity and water were restored to much of the city by late Monday and many residents could use their cell phones and other conveniences. About 90 percent of the city's stores were open.

In the quake's immediate aftermath, more than 1.5 million people had been without power in and around Santiago, which is about 270 miles northeast of Concepcion.

Speaking at a Tuesday morning news conference, Bachelet said the looting and lawlessness seen in the city of Concepcion and other areas will not be allowed. FULL STORY

(CNN) – One senator's decision to block legislation is having an immediate impact on hundreds of thousands of lives.

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) has staged a one-man filibuster that's holding up unemployment benefits and closing down job sites. The retiring senator says he's for the extension, but says he wants Congress to find a way to pay for it first.

Ultimately, millions of people could lose their benefits. Thousands have already been cut off, including Linda Calvin, a case worker for the Head Start program who was let go last May. She joined us on Tuesday's American Morning.

Editor's Note: All this week, in the American Morning original series "Health care – Prescription for waste," we're examining more waste in the health care system – and this time it could involve your money. Today, our Elizabeth Cohen goes shopping for health care to show you how you can save hundreds when it comes to your own medical bills. Tomorrow on American Morning, we look at one hospital's war on unnecessary and outrageously expensive procedures.

(CNN) – You might think that bargain hunting is only something worth doing in a department store or a supermarket, not a hospital. But as our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen found out, that might not always be the case.

(CNN) – We've seen two major earthquakes in two months, and experts predict we'll see more.

Here in the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey says more than 75 million people in 39 states face significant risk from earthquakes.

So are we prepared? And who's at risk?

We were joined on Tuesday's American Morning by two experts to discuss the United States' earthquake preparedness: Marcia McNutt, director of the USGS, and Andre Filiatrualt, a University at Buffalo civil engineering professor and director of the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research.

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